Five Things to Know: Minnetonka 90 Buffalo 73

<p>The Skippers of Minnetonka are a top ten team in Class AAAA basketball.  In a match-up of top ten teams, Tonka knocked off Buffalo 90-73 using a hot shooting start - and the luxury of Buffalo being without [player_tooltip player_id="1143873" first="Zach" last="Zrust"] for the first time - to pounce immediately.  Here are Five Things to Know. </p> <p><strong>One.  Ibrahim’s Run.</strong>  [player_tooltip player_id="962207" first="Ibrahim" last="El-Amin"] hit two threes in the first two minutes, had four threes in the first six minutes, and five threes in the first half.  The junior guard had his team up double figures by the time most fans had taken their seats in a lively atmosphere with fans on all four sides. As the game moved on Buffalo had a stronger hand in El-Amin’s face but that just opened up others allowing Minnetonka to have five players score in double figures.  The shooting touch and speed of El-Amin totaled 23 points on 7 of 13 shooting plus the guard grabbed a team high seven rebounds. </p> <p><strong>Two.  [player_tooltip player_id="962220" first="Alex" last="Jones"] Emerges</strong>.  This was a breakout game for [player_tooltip player_id="962220" first="Alex" last="Jones"] as he continues to get more comfortable after the ligament surgery that took him out of play all of last year.  With the Bison focused on El-Amin, the Tonka ball movement found Jones in the corner and on the wing for spaced out three point attempts.  Jones hit four threes in the first half and scored his 21 points on 7 of 11 shooting.  Strong game from Jones that stretched the Bison defense past their capacity.  </p> <p><strong>Three.  Top Performers</strong>.  The next player to talk about is Nate Dahl, the six foot Buffalo junior guard.  Nate plays the tough guy role at the guard spot with a physical attack mixed with skill.  Minnetonka’s initial defender rarely was able to keep Dahl in front regardless of the situation and when Dahl attacked his power allowed him to get the ball to the rim while forcing defenders to foul him.  Dahl hit 8 of 11 foul shots, he physically grabbed a game high ten rebounds, he created shots for others (four assists), and scored a game high 24 points.  Nate was the only Buffalo player that was consistently able to create offense against Tonka.  </p> <p>Another player that Buffalo had trouble moving with was Minnetonka junior [player_tooltip player_id="962205" first="Jalen" last="Cain"].  Jalen’s transition sprint and his quick bounce were items he did physically that Buffalo just couldn’t move with.  And when you have Minnetonka guards attacking the cup and forcing the defense to rotate, Cain’s athletic ability moved freely behind the play to catch and score (and it’s very hard to contest Jalen when he has a step or two on most players going to the rim).  Jalen is playing the five spot in this Tonka offense at 6’2 because he is the second biggest player the team uses (Walker Liu is the tallest at 6’4 and he comes off the bench) and because his athletic ability allows him to play bigger than he is. Jalen scored 14 points with six rebounds. </p> <p><strong>Four.  New Names to Know</strong>. Jager Sorenson of Buffalo.  Jager is a senior forward that often gives his team about four scores a contest.  Last night Jager had 16 points highlighted by four threes that he spread out throughout the game.  With Zrust out, [player_tooltip player_id="958797" first="Will" last="Pool"] having an off night, and [player_tooltip player_id="850738" first="Antonio" last="Bluiett"] in foul trouble all night (fouled out with 7 minutes to go), Sorenson had the opportunity to shoot more than often and he took advantage. </p> <p><strong>Five.  Underclassmen Report</strong>.  Whenever we talk Tonka the underclassmen report is going to be headlined by sophomores [player_tooltip player_id="1284083" first="Andy" last="Stefonowicz"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1284162" first="Jordan" last="Cain"].  </p> <p>Andy is one of the most skilled sophomores you will ever see.  At about 6’0/6’1 the three things that I think separate him are: 1) a jumper that is made at a 40 percent clip at the arc with a pretty release and great form, 2) a passing ability that is in the category of special as Andy reads the court at Doctoral level and his delivery could eventually be in the Tyus Jones area of allowing teammates to be comfortable when they shoot, and 3) a change of speed, change of direction that allows him to deal with even the highest levels of ball pressure.  </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1284162" first="Jordan" last="Cain"] is in a much similar spot to his brother Jalen on this team.  Jordan starts in the frontcourt next to Jalen and he is also in that 6’2 range.  Jordan’s explosive athletic ability allows him to play in the frontcourt much like his brother because the bounce, strength, and body control allow him to make plays over bigger players. </p>